Rays Sign Joe Nelson

4:18pm:Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has a post up about the signing. He writes that Nelson gives the Rays another closer option, just in case Troy Percival isn’t ready to go following his back surgery.

Topkin, who states about 20 teams had interest in Nelson, adds the deal is pending a physical.

2:36pm: Right-handed reliever Joe Nelson has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald is reporting. It’s a one-year deal worth $1.3MM.